Speed regulating apparatus for hydraulic presses



F. KATz 'Sept 2, 1947.

SPEED REGULATING ABPRATUS FOR HYDRAULIC PRESSES Fired pct.

lNvllzNToRv FRANCIS KATZ n ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 2, 1947 SPEED REGULATING APPARATUS FOR HYDRAULIC PRESSES Francia Katz, New York, N. Y., assitnor to Hydropress. Incorporated, New York, N. Y., acorporation of Delaware Application October 6, 1943. Serial No. 505,110

This invention relates to hydraulic presses and particularly to hydraulic extrusion presses.

7 Claims. (Cl. 121-38) In the extrusion of metals, such as high` strength aluminum and magnesium alloys, the extruded shapes crack and must be discarded ii they are extruded too fast. Unduly slow extrusion, on-the other hand, wastes time and seriously reduces the output of extrusion presses.

To control the speed of operation of hydraulic presses therefore is an important'practical need, yet this need has never been fully satisfied Known extrusion presses have been provided with manually operated control valves to be manipulated by the press operator, during each extrusion or working stroke so as to adjust the liquid supply to the press cylinder and thus conform the ram speed as nearly as practicableto the needs of the process. The quality of control thus achieved, however, is limited by the attentiveness and skill of the press operator, and even the most proficient operators are not able to maintain an optimuml extrusion speed in every working stroke under practical conditions because the speed changes with the resistance of the alloy being extruded and this in turn, for acertain alloy and a certain die shape, changes with the temperature of the billet and with its length, which gradually decreases as the extrusion proceeds.

The principal object of my invention is to iucrease the operating eillciency and the output of hydraulic presses and to improve the average quality of the products produced in their opera.-

' tion. 'Ihis object I achieve |by providing mechanism in combination with the press whichv operates in coordination with the movement of the main ram so as to maintain the speed of the ram at a predetermined value in the working stroke of each operating cycle. 'I'hus extrusion operations, for example, may be carried out without the losses of time, output and product quality heretofore encountered under the limitations of manual speed control. l

Another object of my invention is to provide a speed regulating apparatus for hydraulic presses which has variable settings each corresponding to a certain pressing speed that may be established and automatically maintained'in successive operating cycles of the press when the apparatus is adjusted to that setting. `In this way the speed of the pressing operation is made lreadily adaptable to the needs of any particular process for which the press is to be used.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of my invention will become apparent fromthe following description of an illustrative 2 embodiment thereof, 'Ihe description refers to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which 1 Figure 1 is a diagram showing an automatic speed regulating' apparatus combined with a metal extrusion press according to a preferred embodiment of `my invention; f Figure 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of apparatus used in Figure 1 to produce a control force or pressure proportionate to thespeed of movement of the press ram;

Figure 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic View of` a regulator which operates in response to the control force; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of apparatus for controlling the supply of liquid to the press cylinder in automatic response to the regulator during each working stroke of the press, and according to the position of suitable manually operated controls in other stages of each operating cycle. f

Some of the elements of a metal extrusion press are shown diagrammatically in the background of Figure 1, including the press cylinder IILintov which liquid may be admitted under high pressure through a pipe I2, and a main ram Il which is movable forwardly" with respect to the press cylinder under the pressure o! liquid in the cylinder. A sliding cross-head I6 isattached to the main ram nearits forward end, and a pullback ram I8 connects this cross-head with a piston 20a inside a pullback cylinder 20 which returns the main ram to its initial position after veach conditions of actuation determined selectively by the positions of a main control lever 38. These include a"prefllling" position, a stop position and a pressure position, as indicated diagrammatically in the drawings, as well as a pullback position which is usually provided but is not illustrated because unnecessary to a clear understanding of the present invention. `When lever 38 is moved to the preiilling position the main ram is moved forward by low pressure liquid at a speed vmany times greater than the extrusion speed, this stage of the operating cycle being for the purpose of charging a billet into a cylindrical container or billet chamber (not shown) from Whichthe billet is to be extruded. Following the lever is then moved to the pressure position to supply liquid under high pressure and start the v, extrusion operation. Atthe end of the extrusion stroke the main control lever4 is moved to the stop`position to cut oi the pressure in the press cylinder, after-which further manipulations occur in the usual manner to return the main ram to its starting position for another operating cycle. Y,

. According to prior practices, the ram speed during the extrusion stroke is usually adjusted with a separate, manually operated regulating valve and is readjusted when,y Vwith decreasing billet length and diminishing resistance, the ram gathers speed.

According to the illustrated embodiment of this invention, such manual regulation of the speed of the ram may be secured by manipulating a wheel 46 so as to determine the positionof a special regulating valve 42 which receives the liquid in pipe 34 from the accumulator and passes this liquid to the main control valve through a conduit 44 in housing 32, and from the main conf trol valve to the press cylinder through connected pipes 36 and I2. T he manually, operated lregulating gear 46 1s able toposition valve 42 with respect to its seat 46 by changing the vertical position of a rod 41 which has holes 41a and 41h therein, one of which Imay be engaged by a pin 48a on a lever 48 that is fulcrumed at its right end, at 48h,

' passage across conduit 51, anda pressure line 59 and in turn is connected with valve l42 through y a rod 49.A

In the normal operation of the present invention, however, the manual regulating gear just described is not usedfor thespeed control. Instead, the pin 48a is held removed from holes 41a and 41b so as to have rod 41 disconnected 'the action of a valve'operating cylinder 62; and

(3) the special regulating'valve l42fconnected through rod 46,-lever 48, bracket 66 and rod 66 with a piston 64 inside the operating cylinder` 62.

Referring more particularly to the auxiliary cylinder andits associated apparatus, the pullback ram- I8 is provided with a bracket I9 that is slidable along piston rod 5I between collars 5Ia and I'r'lb secured thereto. These collars are so located that the bracket will engage collar 5Ia at about the completion of the prelling stroke of the main ram and will advance rod 5I and the piston inside cylinder 56 as the main ram I4, the cross-head I6 and the pullback ram I8 move forwardly during each extrusion stroke. Bracket I9 engages collar 5Ib and thereafter returns the piston inside cylinder 56 to its initial position at the back end of that cylinder during the pullback stroke of the main ram.

The provision of idle space between the collars 51a and SIb on piston rod 5I produces a lostv main conduit 53 -to a three-way valve 55 operated,

by a solenoid 56. A conduit 51 leads ,fromthe three-way valve to the orilce 54, which discharges into the upper part of tank 52. Another conduit 58 leads from the valve into the bottom of tank 52.

through valve 55 with conduit 53 a gravity flow may take place from the tank into cylinder 56.

AThe orice structure 54' provides a restricted containing oil or another suitable pressure medium is connected with the same conduit ahead of the orifice. It will therefore be evident that when conduit 51 is connected through valve 55 with conduit 53 and the piston in cylinder, 56 is advanced with the movement of the main ram,

` the liquid in the cylinder will be discharged forcibly through the oriiice and a pressure will'be established in line 59', which is proportionate to the velocity of the flow, which in turn is proportionate to the speedlof movement of the main ram. The size of the orifice preferably is made adjustable by suitable. means, such as a rotary element 54a, and indicating means such as a pointer 54h movable over a dial '54o may be provided on element 54a to indicate the setting of the oriiice.

This setting, as hereinafter will become apparent, becomes a function of the pressing speed that will be maintained automatically by the operation of the speed regulating apparatus, and if ldesired the dial 54e may be calibrated so as to indicate selectable press speeds.

The pressure inline 58 is transmitted to the regulator, 66 where', as illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 3, it acts upon a diaphragm, bellow, piston or similar device, such as diaphragm 16, in opposition to a predetermined yieldable force such as that produced by a spring 1 I. Dia.- phragm 16 in turn is connected through rod 14 and lever 15 with an auxiliary valve 86, which admits oil or another suitable pressure fluidA through lines 8| and 82., respectively, to the extremities of the operating. cylinder 62. Movements of the diaphragm away from anormal position by the pressure in line 59 or -by the opposing force of spring 1I thus result in the application of uid pressure to either one or the other l side of the piston 64. in cylinder 62.v "This piston is so linked to the special regulating valve 42 and is so operatedby the regulator 66 that an increase in the pressing speed causing an increase of pressure in line 59 tends to close the regulating valve, while a decrease of the pressing speed tends to open the regulating valve.y v

In. further detail, the auxiliary valve 86 may comprise two oppositely disposed tappets 83 and 84 in lines 8| and 82, respectively, which communicate with a common pressure line 85 connected with a suitable source of lfluid pressure, such'as a pump 86 operated by a motor 81 to feed oil from a tank 68. The tappets 83 and 84 normally rest on seats 83a and 64a, respectively,

and when either of the tappets is raised from its seat the pressure in the corresponding line 8| or. 82 is released into a common exhaust line 86 that leads back into tank 88. The position of The tank is located somewhat higher than` cylinder 56, so that when conduit 58 is connected i lever` established by diaphragm IB determines vision of means to energize the solenoid 56 of valve 55 during the working stroke of each operating cycle and to'deenergize the solenoid valve during the manually controlled phases of each cycle. For example, a'limit switch 90 in an electrical circuitfor the solenoid is arranged to be closed by an arm 92 connected with the main control lever 38 when the lever 'is located vin its pressure position, and suitable means such as a spring (not shown) in switch 90 serve to open the switch and deenergize the solenoid valve when the main control lever is located in any other position. l

The operation of the illustrated embodiment is as follows: After preliminary operations of known nature to charge a billet andvdummy block and prepare the press for extrusion, the

main control lever 38 is moved to the pressure position. High pressure liquid then enters the presscylinder to advance the main ram, and limit switch 90 is closed with the effect of rconnecting the orifice 54 with cylinder 5E through conduits 5l and 53 and valve 55. As the main ram advances in the course of the extrusion, bracket i9 moves therewith against collar Ela and advances rod 5i and the piston in cylinder 5@ so as to force liquid through orifice 561 at a velocity that is proportionate to the speed of the main ram.A This velocity produces a proportionate pressure in lines 59 which works against diaphragm 10 in opposition to the force of spring 1l. An equilibrium positionf of the diaphragm is thus established which determines the condition of actuation of the auxiliary valve d and thereby determines the position of piston 6d in cylinder 62 as well as the position and the rate of flow through the `regulating valve 62. if the speed of the main ram beginsto exceed that which is predetermined by the setting of oriiice 5, the pressure on diaphragm l0 increases, and changes then occur automatically in the positions of valve t0, piston $6' and regulating valve 42 so as to throttle the iiow of pressure fluid into the press cylinder with the, result of reducing the speed of the main ram to the desired Value. If the rspeed of the main ram should become less than is desired, the system reacts in an opposite sense so as to increase the ilow of pressure iluid into the press cylinder and thus compensate for the forces tending to reduce the speed of the ram below the desired 1value. i

An automatic regulation of the pressing speed" is thus achieved in direct response to the speed of movement of the main ram and without regard to the nature or value or the factors, such. as the length of the billet, the extrusion temperature and the die shape, which at any moment during an extrusion operation exert an indeterminate effect upon the speed of the ram.

When -a change of the automatically regulated speed is desired it is necessary only to change the adjustment of orice 513, which changes the ratio of pressing speed to the velocity of flow through the orice and thus creates a different equilibrium condition for the apparatus that corresponds to a different pressing speed. It will be appare-nt that the new features and combinations herein disclosed may be embodied in various forms of hydraulic pressesy and with the use of many forms and arrangements of control apparatus diifering from those set forth hereinabove for purposes of illustration. I therefore desirethat my invention be accorded a scope commensurate with its novel contributions to the art, which are intended to be defined by the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. The combination with al hydraulic press comprising a,A press cylinder, a piston movable through a working stroke by uid pressure in the cylinder, means including `a main control valve and a regulating valve to admit uid under pressure into the cylinder and selectively operated means movable to several'positions to establish different conditions of operation of said control valve, of mechanism operated in coordination with the movement of said piston to regulate the action of said regulating valve so as to maintain the speedof the piston substantially constant, and means to render said regulating mechanism operative when said selectively operated means is moved to the position itoccupies during the working stroke of the piston. l 2. The combination'with `a hydraulic extrusion press comprising a` press cylinder, a ram. movable forward for extrusionby hydraulic pressure in the cylinder and meansv including a main control valve for admitting 1iquid under pressure into the Icylinder, said main control valve being movable selectively to several different positions of which one'is a pressure position'zfor each extrusion op-A eration, vof alregulating valve movable to va'ry the cw of liquid 'through said main control valve,

mechanical linkage means for moving said regulating valve, uid pressure responsive cylinder means comprising a piston for operating said linkage means, valve means for applying pressure iiuid selectively to either side of said piston, a pressure-responsive diaphragm connected with said valve means to govern the position thereof, means including a member moved in coordination with the extrusion movement of said ram for ap plying to said diaphragm pressure proportionate to the speed of such movement,`and means positioned according to the position of said main control valve for rendering said pressure-responsive means ineffective at all but said one position of said control valve, whereby the speed of said ram during extrusion is regulated.

3. In an apparatus for regulating the speed of hydraulic presses, a cylinder having a piston therein adapted to be moved with a press ram and operative during its advance movement to force liquid from the cylinder through a mainconduit, a liquid supply tank above the cylinder having upper and lower conduit connections, an

orifice in said upper conduit adapted to restrict the ow of liquid therethrough, a pressure line connected with said upper conduit ahead of said orifice, and valve means between saidmain conduit and said upper and lower conduits movable to connect the main conduit alternately with the Iupper and lower conduits.

4. The combination with aA hydraulic press comprising a press cylinder, a piston movable through an operating cycle of which a working stroke is but a part by fluid pressure in the cylinder, means to admit iiuid under pressure to manually operated means movable to several positions to establish diierent conditions of operation of said control valve, and a regulating valve, mechanism responsive to the movement of said piston for actuating said regulating valve so as to maintain the speed of the piston substantially constant, and means to render said mechanism operative when said manually operated means is moved to the position it occupies 'during said working stroke and to render said mechanism inoperative -during other 'parts of said operating cycle.

5. In combination with a `hydraulic extrusion press comprising a press cylinder, a ram movable by hydraulic pressure in the cylinder, and means for supplying pressure to said cylinder including a selectively operated valve to establishy different conditions of operation of said ram, mechanism for regulating the action of said supply means so as to controlthe speed of said ram, including an auxiliary cylinderhaving a piston therein movable with said ram and operative during its working stroke to force liquid through a main conduit, a liquid supply tank above said auxiliary cylinder having upper and lower conduit connections, an orice in said upper conduit adapted to restrict the flow of liquid therethrough, a pressure line connected with said upper conduit ahead of said orice, valve means between said main conduit and said upper and lower conduits movable to connect -the main conduit alternately with the upper and lower con` duits, and means operated upon movements of said selectively operated valve for actuating said valve means so as to connect the main conduit with the upper conduit during the advance movement of said ram and to connect the main conduit with the lower conduit, to rell said auxiliary cylinder with liquid from said tank, during the return movement of said ram.

6.-'I'he combination with a hydraulic extrusion press comprising a press cylinder, a ram and means for admitting liquid under pressure to said cylinder to advance the ram, of-mech- 'ani'sm operated by advance movement of the ram to vary the action of said liquid-admitting means so as to regulate the speed of movement of the ram, wherein said mechanism includes an auxiliary cylinder adjacent the ram having a piston and a piston rod extending parallel to the ram, and mechanical means for moving said piston rod with movements of the ram comprising means to interrupt the movement of said rod during an intermediate part of the total traverse of the ram.

7.v A combinationl as described in claimk 6 wherein said mechanical means include a lpusher slidable along the piston rod with movement of the ram and spaced abutments on the piston rod to be engaged by said pusher during parts of the advance and return movements respectively of the ram.

. FRANCIS KATZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Oct. 8, 1934 U 

